Peanut Butter

I have a thing for peanut butter; always have, always will. There is something so delicious, rich, and satisfying about it. Whatever way you cut it, slice it, spread it, peanut butter is my thing.

Unless it’s part of a recipe, I’m pretty much a peanut butter purist. I have never mixed it with jelly or made a sandwich out of it. Shocking, I know I’m probably the only American not to have tried a PB&J. What can I say; I was a difficult eater growing up (sorry Mom and Dad).

My absolute favorite way to eat peanut butter is with a spoon in one hand and the jar in the other. It doesn’t get any easier, but be careful with this method. It’s possible to get carried away (who, me?).

Since we are talking peanut butter (or I am anyway), let’s clear up some common misconceptions. Yes, peanut butter is high in calories and high in fat. This is true of almost all nuts, so you need to be mindful when you eat them. Have a spoonful or a handful, but not the whole jar or bag. Moderation is key.

Here’s the fun part. The majority of peanut butter is made up of good fats. Yes, there are good fats, and we can and should eat them in moderation, but that’s a much longer post for a different day. 80% of peanut butter is made from unsaturated fat; the same type of fat found in olive oil. Peanut butter also provides some good stuff: fiber, protein, calcium, and iron. So, peanut butter (barring nut allergies) has a place in any healthy diet (and in my heart ♥).

The most important part to indulging in peanut butter is finding a clean brand which doesn’t come with a slew of chemicals, preservatives, or partially hydrogenated oils. Dun, dun, dun.

“Why are partially hydrogenated oils bad?” you ask.

For starters, it’s a mouthful to say. But more importantly, it’s used by food companies because its cheap (no surprise there), it’s has an ability to improve stability and texture, and can provide a longer shelf life. Also, partially hydrogenating the oil increases bad trans and saturated fats and lowers the amount of good fats. Many of the essential fatty acids (i.e. good fats), antioxidants, and other positive components of the oil are lost through this process. Basically, these folks are stripping peanut butter of its nutritional value and giving it a bad rap. Bastards!

Doesn’t it scare you when it says made with real peanut butter…as opposed to what?! Those devilish little elves.

Personally, I don’t believe it’s great we found a way to make food last for years on a shelf. If it lasts that long, what the hell is it doing inside our bodies? Does it hang out there too? Heck, let’s invite the fast food boys and throw a party in our intestines. Or are we just making our bodies work overtime to digest it? When really they should be focusing on other things like building our immune systems, cleansing, circulating blood and a whole bunch of other really critical stuff our body does on a daily basis. I promise, it’s got more important work to do than digest our bad food choices.

Here’s another way to look at it. If someone dumps a huge project on you at work, how well do you maintain the day-to-day things? Do they slide a little or do you have to work overtime just to keep up, essentially burning yourself out. Our bodies are no different, and when we ingest real food and only food, we are letting them operate at their prime, which in turn makes us feel better and healthier. Eat Well + Feel Well = Live Well (staring to sound familiar).

Ok, back to the peanut butter. When I first started shopping at Nature’s Bin, a local health food store, I noticed right away the peanut butter was different. They didn’t carry Peter Pan or Jiff or the other brands I’ve come to know and love. I may not be a mother, but even I know “Choosy moms choose Jiff” (I’ve been brain washed). I stared at the rows and rows of unfamiliar peanut butter brands, and didn’t know what to do, so I panicked and left the store peanut butterless (a very sad day indeed). Instead, I picked up my PB at Target, where the brands were still recognizable. I know, scandalous, but my road to clean eating wasn’t an overnight thing. It has taken months, and I’m still a work in progress, so bear with me.

Gradually, I worked up the courage to try the peanut butter sold at Nature’s Bin. Immediately, I encountered my biggest fear: the whole oil separation and stirring it vigorously thing. I know you’ve heard of it. You’re not alone because it really freaked me out, and you needed an industrial strength mixer to combine it well enough.

Of course, this was before I embarked on Tank Top Arms, so maybe I could handle it now. We tried brand after brand, and each time the Hubby said “No, let’s just get it at Target.” But, I stayed firm (not because I’m stubborn, mind you) and we kept trying different kinds, and one day, finally, we were rewarded with this.

MaraNatha No Stir Peanut Butter. It’s not as salty or sugary as my old brands (pair of evil crones), but after gradually changing my food choices, I’ve come to no longer really crave overtly salty or sweet (unless it’s from fruit – all bets are off when it comes to fruit). Long story short, both the Hubby and I give this brand our seal of approval, with two snaps and some glitter. Or the snaps and glitter might be just me, but whatever. Our only problem with peanut butter now is keeping it in stock. Not only do we use it in so many recipes: Energy Bites, Peanut Butter Chocolate Pudding,Granola, but I still enjoy eating it straight up with a spoon.

I love peanut butter too! I would eat it every day if I could, but switched over the all natural peanut butter about a year ago. I had the natural peanut butter in the past, but went back to Jif and now back to the all natural kind. I’ve have been buying it in Heinen’s. I have never tried your brand you listed. Can I get it at any health food store? Did you get it at Nature’s Bin (your hang out)? I’m determiend to get there one day and shop!

You are right. I buy the PB at at Nature’s Bin. I actually buy 100% of my food there now (other than my CSA). I did check the website for MaraNatha and it says Giant Eagle stocks their brand, so you should be able to find it there too. Although, I highly recommend Nature’s Bin.

I have just started embarking on this whole clean eating journey. I’m still trying to learn the ins and outs and do my research. Jif has a “natural” peanut butter. Have you seen or tried it and if so is it truly natural and comparable to the brand you have mentioned above? I am a hard core peanut butter lover and eating it from a spoon is my favorite snack!

Hi Holly,
Welcome to clean eating. I hope you love it as much as I do, although I am definitely a work in progress. I learn new things almost every day. I have never tried the Jif “natural” peanut butter so I don’t know much about it. I did check out the stats, and it does seem comparable to my current brand. The only difference is Jif has a higher saturated fat content (although not by much), and the Jif version is labeled as a PB “spread.” The fact it’s labeled as spread makes me raise my eyebrows, although I don’t know if that’s a true issue. Here’s some info I did find about it though. Feel free to take it or leave it. I hope you pop in again and keep my updated on your clean eating journey. I’d love to hear more about it.http://consumerist.com/2012/10/18/why-isnt-jifs-natural-peanut-butter-spread-labeled-just-peanut-butter/

I am just now embarking on my clean eating journey and I know it will take me a little while to get where I want to be but I know I will get there. I use peanut better in my morning shakes (and everything else) so this article was very helpful. Thanks!

I also started eating clean a few months ago and I love it!! I completely cut out sugar, but have been craving it lately! I ended up eating two spoonfuls of peanut butter…then I looks at the facts and wanted to gag lol peanut butter never tasted so good! I’m in search of a healthier kind! I totally hate almond butter :/

I’m afraid my sweet tooth is way too large to cut out sugar entirely. It’s much more realistic for me to indulge in moderation and try to stick to the natural sugars when possible (i.e. honey, maple syrup and sometimes good old fashioned cane sugar).

I’m not a fan of almond butter either, but I do love the MaraNatha brand of peanut butter. No hydrogenated oils there; just the good stuff.
Good luck on your clean eating journey; I’ll be rooting for you and hopefully I’ll hear from you again soon.

Oh dark chocolate almond butter sounds divine. I’ve only had almond butter once and felt so-so about it, but throw in dark chocolate, and that’s something I’m going to have to check it out.
Thanks for stopping by.

I stopped eating commercial peanutbutter after hearing what was found in some of them; urine, mouse/rat turds, mouse/rat hair, bug pieces (legs, eyes, etc…). I keep telling myself I will make my OWN peanutbutter, but never do it (lazy, I guess)…..lol.

I’ve never tried that brand, although I just googled the ingredients and they look pretty good to me. The big thing for me is to avoid hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. The fewer ingredients it has, the better.

Also if you’re trying to avoid GMO’s, you’ll want to stick with an organic nut butter because a lot of oils use GMO seeds.

I’m not sure if you’ll love this or hate it…. In a local store where I live (Charlie Brown Farms in Littlerock, CA), there is a peanut machine that grinds peanut butter. Organic peanuts and salt are the only ingredients! I love it! It is Heaven, the best peanut butter I have tasted. I do have a question. If you are still answering questions on this blog. How much peanut butter is too much? I have been making green smoothies a lot. The smoothie I have been making the most calls for 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter, and sometimes I have 2 of those smoothies a day, which is 4 tablespoons of natural peanut butter. I am beginning to wonder of that is too much, and my second green smoothie (if I have 2) needs to be a non-peanut butter smoothie. What are your thoughts on this?

I love the sound of that. We have a place locally too where it will grind the Peanut Butter right in front of you, and I think it’s perfection.

In response to your question, how much is too much? I would have to ask too much for what? Are you trying to lose weight? Maintain weight? Gain weight? Either way, I’m not a Dietician or a Nutritionist so I’m very likely not the best person to answer this question, although I will say I don’t much limit myself when it comes to food where I know the ingredients and it provides nutritional value. Also, PB when made with the right oil, and without a bunch of additives can be a really good source of fat, which is something we all need in our diets, even if it’s of varying amounts. Are you getting a lot of other sources of fat? My advice, aside from talking to someone more qualified, would be to listen to your body and look at you overall meal plan for the day. Is it balanced? Are you getting enough nutrients? Do you feel sluggish or great after the smoothies? Have you put on weight since you started drinking them? Maybe answering those questions will help steer you towards an answer.